SUCCESSFUL clubs like Hawthorn regenerate without anyone noticing too much.
In recent seasons the Hawks have started to move Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell out of centre bounces in preparation for the next era.
On Friday night against the Sydney Swans, that forward planning will be on full display.
It will be just the sixth time in 10 seasons (and the second time this year) Hawthorn has taken the field without either of its dual premiership midfielders in the team.
Hawthorn has lost on four of those five occasions when they both missed since Sewell's debut. Its only victory came in round two this season against Essendon, when the Hawks won by three points.
However with Mitchell, 31, and Sewell, 30, reaching the latter part of their careers, the club has sensibly planned for the prospect of being without them.
Mitchell's centre bounce attendances have dropped from 73.5 per cent in 2010 to 45.8 per cent so far this season.
The most dramatic drop (from 74.7 in 2012 to 53.6 in 2013) happened last season, when Mitchell swung between half-back and the middle.
It's a credit to Alastair Clarkson and his coaching staff and players that such succession planning could happen on the run without a drop in the team's performance.
Of course, that's a bit like saying 'well played' to the Monopoly player with a wad of cash when they put hotels on Mayfair and Park Lane.
Sewell has gone to fewer centre bounces too, since 2010.
He was at 70.5 per cent of centre bounces in 2010 and just 57.3 per cent last season. He has not played so far in 2014 because of a hamstring injury.
Despite Hawthorn decreasing its dependence on Mitchell and Sewell, the duo have remained key figures at centre bounces.
Last year, they both attended a greater percentage of centre bounces than all but recently retired premiership ruckman Max Bailey (57 per cent). However the load was spread further.
Paul Puopolo, Jordan Lewis, Luke Hodge, David Hale, Cyril Rioli, Shaun Burgoyne and Luke Breust all attended a greater percentage of centre bounces in 2013 than they did in 2012, while Mitchell and Sewell attended fewer.
The new look has continued in 2014 with the addition of new faces such as Ben McEvoy (60.9 per cent), Liam Shiels (45.6), Will Langford (41.8) and Mitch Hallahan (31.9), who are all in the top 10 for the Hawks' centre bounce involvements.
On Friday night, Hawthorn will reach the next phase in its evolution with both Mitchell and Sewell on the sidelines.
There is no denying the absence of the brilliant Mitchell (who has only played in losses to Geelong and Richmond since the 2012 Grand Final defeat), Sewell and the improving but injured Shiels will make a difference.
However with Rioli, Hallahan, Puopolo, McEvoy and Jonathan Simpkin readied to play a role inside the centre square, and Lewis and Burgoyne equipped to accept increased responsibility, Hawthorn will enter Friday night's game in the sort of shape it began preparing for a long time ago.
Stats supplied by Champion Data
